The Phantom of the Opera

Sold. Your number, sir? Thank you.

Lot 663, then, ladies and gentlemen.

A poster from this house's production of Hannibal by Chalumeau.

- Showing here. - Do I have 10 francs?

Five, then. Five I am bid. Six.

Seven. Against you, sir, seven.

Eight?

Eight once. Selling twice. Sold, to Monsieur Deferre.

Thank you very much, sir.

Lot 664, a wooden pistol and three human skulls...

from the 1831 production of Robert le Diable by Meyerbeer.

Ten francs for this. Ten, thank you. Ten still.

Fifteen, thank you. Fifteen I'm bid.

Going at 15.

Your number, sir?

Lot 665, ladies and gentlemen...

a papier-maché musical box in the shape of a barrel organ.

Attached, the figure of a monkey in Persian robes playing the cymbals.

This item discovered in the vaults of the theater, still in working order.

Showing here.

May I commence at 15 francs?

Fifteen, thank you.

Yes, 20 from you, sir. Thank you very much.

Madame Giry, 25. Thank you, madame. Twenty-five I'm bid. Do I hear 30?

Thirty. And 35?

Selling at 30 francs, then. Thirty once, 30 twice...

Sold for 30 francs to the Vicomte de Chagny.

Thank you, sir.

A collector's piece indeed.

Every detail.

Exactly as she said.

Will you still play When all the rest of us are dead?

Lot 666, then.

A chandelier in pieces.

Some of you may recall the strange affair of the Phantom of the Opera.

A mystery never fully explained.

We're told, ladies and gentlemen, that this is the very chandelier...

which figures in the famous disaster.

Our workshops have repaired it and wired parts of it for the new electric light.

Perhaps we can frighten away the ghost of so many years ago...

with a little illumination.

Gentlemen?

The trophy From our saviors.

From our saviors.

From the enslaving force.

Of Rome!

Madame.

With feasting and dancing and song.

Tonight in celebration We greet the victorious throng.

Returned to bring salvation!

I've got them, monsieur.

Vicomte, welcome.

The trumpets of Carthage resound.

Hear, Romans, now and tremble.

Hark to our step on the ground.

Hear the drums Hannibal comes!

You make my dress train too long.

Sad to return To find the land we love.

Threatened once more By Roma's far-reaching grasp.

Gentlemen, gentlemen...

Rehearsals are under way for a new production of Chalumeau's Hannibal.

- Monsieur Lefevre, I am rehearsing. - Monsieur Reyer, Madame Giry...

ladies and gentlemen, please, if I could have your attention?

As you know, there have been rumors of my imminent retirement.

I can now tell you that these were all true, and it is my pleasure to introduce you...

to the two gentlemen who now own the Opera Populaire...

Monsieur Richard Firmin and Monsieur Gilles Andre.

I'm sure you have read of their recent fortune in the junk business.

Scrap metal, actually.

They must be rich.

And we are deeply honored to introduce our new patron.

The Vicomte de Chagny.

I still can't believe we managed to get him. It's such a coup for us, my dear.

It's Raoul.

Before my father died, at the house by the sea...

I guess you could say we were childhood sweethearts.

- He called me Little Lotte. - Christine, he's so handsome.

My parents and I are honored to support all the arts...

especially the world-renowned Opera Populaire.

Gentlemen, Signora Carlotta Giudicelli, our leading soprano for five seasons.

- Brava! Brava! - Brava! Brava!

Signor Ubaldo Piangi.

An honor, signor. I believe I'm keeping you from your rehearsal.

I will be here this evening to share your great triumph. My apologies.

Thank you, monsieur.

- Once more if you please, signor. - He love me. He love me.

Thank you, indeed, for the wonderful words. So inspiring and encouraging...

He wouldn't recognize me.

- He didn't see you. - If you please. Monsieur.

We take particular pride in the excellence of our ballet.

I see why.

Especially that little blond angel.

My daughter, Meg Giry.

And that exceptional beauty. No relation, I trust?

Christine Daae. Promising talent, Monsieur Firmin.

Very promising.

Daae, did you say?

No relation to the famous Swedish violinist?

His only child.

Orphaned at 7 when she came to live and train in the ballet dormitories.

An orphan, you say?

I think of her as a daughter also.

Gentlemen, if you would kindly stand to one side.

Hannibal's friends!

Ah, me! Not on my dress! Why?

The trumpeting elephants sound.

Hear, Romans, now and tremble.

Hark to their step on the ground.

Hear the drums!

Hannibal comes!

All day!

All they want is the dancing!

All they want is the dancing!

Well, the Vicomte is very excited about tonight's gala.

I hope he is as excited by dancing girls as your new managers...

because I will not be singing!

Get my doggy, bring my doggy. Bye-bye.

- What do we do? - Grovel.

- Grovel, grovel. - Right.

- I'm going now. It is finished. - World-renowned artist and great beauty.

Bella diva.

Goddess of song.

Monsieur Reyer, isn't there a rather marvelous aria for Elissa...

in Act 3 of Hannibal? Perhaps the signora...

Because I have not my costume for Act 3. Because somebody not finish it!

And I hate my hat!

Signora, as a personal favor, would you oblige us with a private rendition?

Unless, of course, Monsieur Reyer objects.

If my managers command.

- Monsieur Reyer? - If my diva commands.

Yes, I do.

Everybody, very quiet.

- Monsieur, why exactly are you retiring? - My health.

- I see. - You as well!

Signora.

Maestro.

Think of me Think of me fondly.

When we've said goodbye.

Remember me once in a while.

Please promise me you'll try.

When you find that once again You long to take your heart back.

And be free...

- Oh, my God, signora! - I hate you.

- Lift it up! - He's here. The Phantom of the Opera.

Signora, are you all right? Buquet! For God's sake, what's going on up there?

Please, monsieur, don't look at me. As God's my judge, I wasn't at my post.

Please, monsieur, there's no one there.

Or if there is, well, then, it must be a ghost.

Signora, these things do happen.

For the past three years these things do happen.

And did you stop them from happening? No!

And you two, you are as bad as him.

"These things do happen."

Until you stop these things from happening, this thing does not happen!

- Bring my doggy and my boxy. - Amateurs.

Now you see. Bye-bye, I'm really leaving.

Gentlemen, good luck. If you need me, I shall be in Australia.

Signora Giudicelli, she will be coming back, won't she?

You think so, monsieur?

- I have a message from the Opera Ghost. - Oh, God in heaven, you're all obsessed!

- He welcomes you to his opera house. - His opera house?

And commands that you continue to leave box five empty...

for his use. And reminds you that his salary is due.

His salary?

Well, Monsieur Lefevre used to give him 20,000 francs a month.

Twenty thousand francs?

Perhaps you can afford more. With the vicomte as your patron?

Madame, I had hoped to make that announcement public tonight...

when the vicomte was to join us for the gala.

Obviously, we shall now have to cancel, as it appears we have lost our star!

- But surely there must be an understudy. - There is no understudy for La Carlotta!

A full house, Andre. We shall have to refund a full house!

A full house, Andre. We shall have to refund a full house!

Christine Daae could sing it, sir.

What, a chorus girl? Don't be silly.

She has been taking lessons from a great teacher.

- Who? - I don't know his name, monsieur.

Let her sing for you, monsieur.

She has been well taught.

All right.

Come on, don't be shy.

Come on, come along. Just...

From the beginning of the aria then, please, mademoiselle.

- Andre, this is doing nothing for my nerves. - She's very pretty.

Think of me Think of me fondly.

When we've said goodbye.

Remember me once in a while.

Please promise me you'll try.

When you find That once again you long.

To take your heart back And be free.

If you ever find a moment.

Spare a thought for me.

We never said our love was evergreen.

Or as unchanging as the sea.

But if you can still remember.

Stop and think of me.

Think of all the things We've shared and seen.

Don't think about the way.

Things might have been.

Think of me, think of me waking.